Don’t Tell Me to Smile

Poetry

It’s funny how women never tell each other

that it would be so much better if they smiled.

Too often it’s a man trying to curry favor —

maybe in some way ingratiate themselves —

but the ire rises whenever one happens to say,

“Give me a smile,” as if it’s a birthright of sorts.

Women’s hackles rise, like cats ready to attack,

because it becomes a defense mechanism.

“If he thinks he can tell me to smile, then what else?”

It becomes a bubbling question, annoying,

but there’s legit fear there too underneath.

Too often the sayings go, “You would look

so much better if you only smiled.”

Women think, “Screw that,” and try to move on,

but it’s not simple when the world is run by men

who seem to have a complex about women’s moods.

“Oh, just smile at me, why don’t you. Validate me.”

You may not think it’s there, but women do.

There’s the underlying threat in the words:

“What happens if I don’t smile? What then?”

And so the cycle goes on and on and on

till it’s a war of opposing ideals and views —

women, the pleasers or the disgruntled,

and men the goaders or the entitled.

“Smile, it’s good for you” — sure, maybe,

but not on your terms, sorry, buddy.

Originally published at https://vocal.media.